Dunn Stays: Board Splits on Suspension Vote

SIU President Randy Dunn avoided suspension Thursday, as trustees were split four-to-four on whether to place him on administrative leave.

Trustee Joel Sambursky says documents – which are being made public – show Dunn worked with administrators at SIU Edwardsville not just to craft a proposed funding reallocation, but also worked behind the scenes to boost legislation that would split the two campuses.

“President Dunn’s Job is to advance the SIU System. It’s to advocate for the SIU System, not maneuver behind the scenes to stall, divide, and ultimately try to work to dissolve it.”

Before an hours-long closed session, more than a dozen faculty and staff members from SIUE urged trustees not to suspend Dunn. Professor Charles Berger says Dunn’s job is to advocate for the entire system, and thinks removing him would be a disaster.

“It’s hard for many of us to believe that the board is even discussing such a move. In effect, President Dunn appears to be in danger of losing his job because he did his job.”

Dunn was not available for comment after the meeting. The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees is in September.

The Southern Illinois University system may undergo a change in leadership.

The Executive Committee of the SIU Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Friday in Carbondale to consider placing system President Randy Dunn on administrative leave and naming an acting president.